Larry Gonick is back with The Cartoon Guide to Algebra

Long before graphic novels were “respectable” there was Larry Gonick, whose Cartoon History of the Universe books were respected and bestselling looks at history as told in a fanciful but well researched cartoon style. A former calculus calculus instructor at Harvard and a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT, his science bona fides have never been in doubt. And he’s back in January with a Cartoon Guide to Algebra. Is there a way to make the abstract more comprehensible with comics? We’ll soon find out.

In this latest addition to the successful Cartoon Guide series, master cartoonist, former Harvard instructor, and New York Times bestselling author Larry Gonick offers a complete and up-to-date illustrated course to help students understand and learn this core mathematical course taught in American schools.

The Cartoon Guide to Algebra (William Morrow; On-sale 1/20/2015; Paperback; $18.99) covers all of algebra’s essentials—including rational and real numbers, the number line, variables, expressions, laws of combination, linear and quadratic equations, rates, proportion, and graphing—with clear, funny, and easy-to-understand illustrations. Rounding out the book is an overview of algebra’s history and its many practical applications in modern life.

Combining entertainment and education, The Cartoon Guide to Algebra is the perfect supplement for any study of algebra, whether readers are high school or college students, independent learners, math lovers, or just fans of Larry Gonick’s bestselling, award-winning cartoon guides.

Gonick’s bestselling series has sold more than a million copies worldwide and has been translated into sixteen languages. Teachers, researchers, and students around the world have embraced Gonick’s unique ability to make difficult subjects fun, interesting, and easy-to-understand while still relaying the essential information in a clear, organized and accurate format. Paperback, e-book, Kindle and iPad versions of The Cartoon Guide to Algebra will be available January 20, 2015.

Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.